I have been told many different things in regards to the holy ghost, being saved and speaking in tongues. Someone told me that if you were truly saved then you will speak in tongues. Another said that all people will not have the same spiritual gifts. If I have never spoken in tongues does that mean I do not have the holy spirit of God? If I have never spoken in tongues does that mean I am not truly saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord? Can someone help to clarify this confusion.Do I have the holy spirit even if I have never spoken in tongues. I have been saved and baptised but yet have never experienced the gift of speaking in tongues.
Thank you very much Chris. I do believe and feel that what you have written is true and correct according to Gods word. Thanks for your encouragement and quotes from the bible. I don't understand why we all don't continue to encourage and edify instead of try to make doubt among our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I hate this flesh self and want to walk more in the spirit until I am walking fully in the spirit of truth to glorify our Father and be a light for others to see Jesus in me. Please continue to pray for me and my spiritual walk and to always obey Him daily.
Chris just because you have never seen someone do these things don't say that those signs dont follow them that believe. On mission once I was given a drink the rule was even if you dont like something eat or drink everything they give you because they have so little and are offended by not having their sacrifice recieved , So i drank the drink what I didnt know was that the person who gave it to me was the local shaman and he gave me a poison that he had told the village would kill this man and prove that our God is the real God. I drank it and went on to minister to several people in the community latter that night as we preached through an interpreture and gave the altar call many gave their hearts to Christ this was when the story of the posion came out. So these signs do still follow Those that believe the problem in america is that we dont see a need for these signs because we have the best doctors and physcologist and antivenom and anti posions in the world. We even God's people have come to expect science to save us. And yet let someone get some uncurable desiease and see how quickly we remember "they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." I end with NEver limit what God can and will do for those who love him.
And to head of any arguement I dont mean that those who dont have these "signs" dont love him or arent of Him it is just that we have forgotten what Faith the size of a mustard seed even is.
awesome presentation. was just curious what made u leave the penecostal church.. since u attended there and they taught u must be baptized in holy spirit did u ever experience that.. u said u RECIEVED THE LORD in a pentecostal church i was wondering what do u mean by that? and since u was DELIVERED what was the error that u realized in that teaching? i do believe that the fruits of Spirit mentioned n GAL 5:22 is great evidence of spirit that dwells in you.. JUST HAVE ONE POINT ABOUT THAT.. are those fruits that you wont realize until a time period? those are fruits that must develope and actually wont be noticable until later on.. so did the apostles have to wait to see those fruits before they determined that God has granted someone repentance... couldnt teh apostles tell right no spot IF SOMEONE Has RECEIVED THE SPIRIT? how did they know for sure? in acts 8 why would PETER AND JOHN have to come down and pray for them to recieve Holy Spirit AFTER THEY WERE BAPTIZED AND SAID TO BELEIVE... in acts 19 WHY WOULD PAUL ASK IF THEY RECIEVED HOLY SPIRIT ( SINCE THEY BELIEVED)? how did they know if and when they did? these are questions u must answer if u use the gal 5:22 to back your reasoning.. scripture tells us to PROVE ALL THINGS.. we can only do it with scripture and it can never contradict other scriptures. so the question is did Jesus ever USE SPEAKING IN TONGUES TO PROVE SOMEONE JUST RECIEVED HOLY GHOST... if the answer is yes, then what makes us think He doesnt do that anymore... is there scripture to back it up... thats all..
Are you saying a person who does not utter any type of tongues is not truly Saved? Not truly born again through Faith in Jesus Christ? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. The Gift from God is eternal life through Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Whosoever believes in Him should not parish but have ever lasting life....I thought the spirit of God lives in all who Accept Him but your saying the spirit of God will make you utter some sort of tongues otherwise we just Think we are saved? Is that what your saying?
Here is a hymn that A.B. Simpson wrote. Simpson is the founder of the organization that Tozer was a part of.
HIMSELF
By: A. B. Simpson
Once it was the blessing,
Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling,
Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted,
Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing,
Now Himself alone.
Once 'twas painful trying,
Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation,
Now the uttermost.
Once 'twas ceaseless holding,
Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting,
Now my anchor's cast.
Once 'twas busy planning,
Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring,
Now He has the care.
Once 'twas what I wanted
Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking,
Now 'tis ceaseless praise.
Once it was my working,
His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him,
Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted,
Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored,
Now for Him alone.
Once I hoped in Jesus,
Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying,
Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited,
Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored
Safe within the vail.
please look at my replys to everyone else.. go to youtube.com type in baptism of holy ghost.. my name on there is BrothaMinister and i teach on this subject.. listen to all 4 parts then see if what im saying is biblical.. as far as KNOWING your gifts God will put something in your heart that COMPELLS u to do what He is wanting u to do. NOTICE ITS "SPIRITUAL GIFTS".. only THE SPIRIT CAN REVEAL IT TO U. .not a person.. now someoone who is mature in faith can help u determine if its from God.. but we all have the bible to see what the gifts are.. and ur gifts are to be used for the church... God bless.
You know, I am very worried about peoples thoughts on this, it seems very heated, argumentitive, debative over scripture etc etc.
Can we not rely on our hearts to tell us if we feel God?
The important thing is we are saved!!
I can not say I can speak in toungues as having gone to a church long ago, I soon learned that I could 'babble' just as well as they, and I even tried it for fun when I was NOT a christian...and could do it...I think our brains are intelligent enough to babble very well convincingly.
So in the end is the question more importantly, WHY does everyone feel such need for validation of the holy spirit by the ways of 'speaking in tongues'?
Do you need proof?
Can you not see the works of his hands on your life?
Would it not be more satisfying to have a gift recieved from the holy spirit that is purposeful and useful?
I am not saying speaking in tongues is not useful, I am sure it is satisfying for the soul, but for anything other then a selfish purpose you then would need an interpreter for the benifit of others.
Maggie you make a good point! I was not seeking validation from anyone really. But you see, this person in my life has made me to almost doubt my own salvation by saying all who are saved will receive the holy ghost and speak in tongues. Otherwise, we are not saved! That is what they are saying! They are just not saying it straight forward as I have just said but that is exactly what they are saying. I believe in Jesus Christ the son of God who Died on the Cross for my sins and who has resurrected and will return! I accept Jesus Christ the son of God into my heart and into my life. When and If God wants me to speak or utter in tongues I know at that time I will. Your absolutely right! We can rely on our hearts to feel God. Thanks for all your input. I do believe in the speaking of tongues. I know they spoke it in the bible. I just have never experienced it myself and truly don't like others to try to make me feel that I am not saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ my Lord because I never uttered any tongues. To me that is not edifying each other but planting seeds of doubt which brothers and sister in Christ should not do. God bless.
Sister Susie
Now that was a mouthfull!!!
You are very correct about the planting of seeds of doubt!!
You may or may not ever speak in tongues, but you are saved by the GRACE of God given us by Jesus Christ.
You do know in your heart what our Father is all about, always measure what is said to you through that, for that tool is far more important then your brain!!
My mother sent me a text which I think may be helpful to you, I don't know if it is fromt he bible, but it sure did put a fine point on things.
It reads.
God watches to see who will seek his face and who will seek his hand.
His face represents his character, his hand represents power and provision.
If you seek his hand you may find it, but never knowing the face.
If you seek his face you will find it and know it, and you will know his hand also.
We often look at various 'works' and 'words' of others for our representation of Jesus and God, we look at our own circumstances even to see if what is happening is Gods blessing or correction!!
When you seek his face you will know both his face and his hand!!
And truely when you think on it, and think about Gods character as a saved person, you realize that God is the God who provides. A loving, merciful and generous God, who's son died not for anything we have achieved or done for anyone, but as a free and perfect gift!
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12-14 (chapters) speaks of the gifts of the Spirit. In studying this, I think you will see what is most important. Folks who think you need to speak in tongues are misinterpreting God's Holy Word. As you seek the Face of God, He will guide you to the gift you need in your walk. There are denominations that insist that one speak in tongues to have any part of leading the church, right down to ushering. The least they are is mistaken.
May God bless you in the reading and studying of His Word.
Rita